U.S. patent application number 11/822410 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-10 for light source device and liquid crystal display apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Takaharu Kikuchi, Tsutomu Tsuji, Masashi Yokota.
Application Number | 20080007947 11/822410 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38918960 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080007947 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yokota; Masashi ; et
al. |
January 10, 2008 |
Light source device and liquid crystal display apparatus
Abstract
A light source device includes: at least four rod-shaped lamps;
an attachment plate to which the at least four lamps are attached
substantially parallel to one another in a condition where the
pitches between the lamps are different from one another; and a
plurality of lamp clips each having two holding portions holding
adjoining two lamps at middle parts thereof. The separation
distance between the two holding portions of a first lamp clip
holding two lamps and the separation distance between the two
holding portions of a second lamp clip holding two lamps adjoining
the two lamps are substantially the same.
Inventors: |
Yokota; Masashi;
(Suzuka-shi, JP) ; Tsuji; Tsutomu; (Tsu-shi,
JP) ; Kikuchi; Takaharu; (Tsu-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
|
Family ID: |
38918960 |
Appl. No.: |
11/822410 |
Filed: |
July 5, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/225 ;
362/396; 362/97.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 1/133604 20130101;
G02F 1/133608 20130101; G02F 2201/465 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/225 ; 362/97;
362/396 |
International
Class: |
F21S 4/00 20060101
F21S004/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 6, 2006 |
JP |
2006-186614 |
Apr 26, 2007 |
JP |
2007-117509 |
Claims
1. A light source device comprising: at least four rod-shaped
lamps; an attachment plate to which the at least four lamps are
attached substantially parallel to one another in a condition where
pitches between the lamps are different from one another; and a
plurality of lamp clips each having at least two holding portions
holding adjoining two lamps at middle parts thereof; wherein a
separation distance between the two holding portions of a first
lamp clip and a separation distance between the two holding
portions of a second lamp clip adjoining the first lamp clip are
substantially the same.
2. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the
separation distance between the two holding portions is a distance
intermediate between the separation distance between the two lamps
held by the first lamp clip and the separation distance between the
two lamps held by the second lamp clip.
3. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein a
separation distance between the two holding portions of a third
lamp clip holding lamps adjoining the two lamps held by the first
or second lamp clip is different from the separation distance
between the two holding portions of the first or second lamp
clip.
4. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the
adjoining two lamps are held by the first lamp clip at the middle
parts of the lamps in such a manner as to make the lamps closer to
each other, and the two lamps adjoining the two lamps are held by
the second lamp clip at the middle parts of the lamps in such a
manner as to make the lamps more separated from each other.
5. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of lamp clips have translucency.
6. A liquid crystal display apparatus comprising: a liquid crystal
panel; and the light source device according to claim 1 provided on
a back side of the liquid crystal panel.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) on Patent Application No. 2006-186614 and No.
2007-117509 filed in Japan on Jul. 6, 2006 and Apr. 26, 2007
respectively, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated
by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present application relates to a light source device
having lamp clips holding lamps, and a liquid crystal display
apparatus.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Liquid crystal display apparatuses are formed of a
lamination of a liquid crystal display panel and a light source
device in which a plurality of rod-shaped lamps each having both
ends held are juxtaposed substantially parallel to one another on a
chassis. The both ends of the lamps are fixed, for example, by a
lamp holder disposed at each side of the light source device.
[0006] In recent years, with the increase in the size of liquid
crystal display apparatuses, the number of lamps of the light
source device has tended to increase, and the lamps has tended to
become longer and thinner.
[0007] Regarding the increase in the number of lamps, a light
source device has been proposed in which in order to reduce the
number of lamps while maintaining the required brightness and
suppressing the unevenness in the brightness of the light source
device, the lamps are so arranged as to be close in the
neighborhood of the center in the direction of juxtaposition of the
lamps and to be sparse in the neighborhood of both ends in the
direction of juxtaposition of the lamps (see Japanese Unexamined
Patent Application Publication No. H06-75216).
[0008] In this light source device, the plurality of lamps are
juxtaposed in such a manner that the pitch gradually increases from
the center in the direction of juxtaposition toward both ends in
the direction of juxtaposition. Consequently, the brightness is
highest in the center of the screen of the liquid crystal display
panel, and gradually decreases toward both ends of the screen. By
reducing the number of lamps in this way, reduction in power
consumption and reduction in size, thickness, and weight are
achieved.
[0009] On the other hand, regarding the increase in the length and
the decrease in the thickness of the lamps, a light source device
has been proposed in which in order to maintain the performance,
quality, and the like of the light source device by reliably
holding the lamps that have become longer and thinner, lamp clips
holding middle parts of the lamps at least one or two points are
provided as well as lamp holders holding both ends of the lamps
(see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2001-210126).
[0010] When the lamps are held one by one by using lamp clips each
having one holding portion holding one lamp, a problem arises in
which the number of lamp clips increases and this increases the
number of man-hours for holding the lamps by using the lamp
clips.
[0011] To solve this problem, Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 2001-210126 discloses lamp clips
integrally provided with a plurality of holding portions holding a
plurality of adjoining lamps, respectively
[0012] When such lamp clips are used, since the lamps can be held
in such a manner that a plurality of adjoining lamps are held
together, the number of lamp clips and the number of man-hours
associated with the lamp clips can be reduced. Specifically, for
example, when four lamps are juxtaposed, two lamp clips integrally
provided with two holding portions holding adjoining two lamps,
respectively, are provided, and the lamp holding operation is
performed twice.
[0013] In particular, the lamp clips disclosed in Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-210126 have a
partly opened arc-shaped grasping configuration, are made of a
transparent material having flexibility, are integrally molded as
clips for one tube and for multiple tubes, protect the lamps,
ensure the position accuracy of the lamp arrangement to prevent the
brightness unevenness on the information display screen, and
prevent the influence of the shadows of the lamp holders on the
brightness reduction and the brightness unevenness on the
information display screen by using the transparent material.
[0014] When a plurality of lamps are juxtaposed with different
pitches as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. H06-75216 and the lamps are held by using the lamp
clips disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2001-210126, a structure is considered in which all
the lamp clips are arranged in a staggered configuration in such a
manner that one lamp is associated with one lamp clip.
[0015] However, with this structure, a problem arises in which the
number of lamp clips increases and the number of man-hours for
holding the lamps by using the lamp clips increases.
[0016] Accordingly, a structure is considered in which all the lamp
clips are arranged in a staggered configuration in such a manner
that two lamps are associated with one lamp clip.
[0017] However, since the pitches between the lamps are not fixed,
it is necessary to prepare various kinds of lamp clips the
separation distances between the two holding portions of which are
different from one another in correspondence with the various
pitches, and this excessively increases the number of kinds of lamp
clips.
SUMMARY
[0018] The present application is made in view of such
circumstances, and a principal object thereof is to provide a light
source device in which the number of kinds of lamp clips can be
reduced since the separation distances between the two holding
portions of two lamp clips each holding two of adjoining four lamps
are substantially the same, and a liquid crystal display apparatus
having the light source device.
[0019] Another object of the present application is to provide a
light source device in which the lamps can be held without any
overload on the lamps since the separation distances between the
two holding portions of two lamp clips each holding two of
adjoining four lamps are distances intermediate between the
separation distances between the two lamps held by the lamp
clips.
[0020] Still another object of the present application is to
provide a light source device in which the lamps can be held
without any overload on the lamps since the separation distances
between the two holding portions of the two lamp clips each holding
two of adjoining four lamps are different from one another.
[0021] In a light source device according to the present
application in which at least four rod-shaped lamps are juxtaposed
substantially parallel to one another with different pitches on an
attachment plate to which the lamps are attached, and a plurality
of lamp clips each having at least two holding portions holding
middle parts of adjoining two lamps are provided, the separation
distance between the two holding portions of a first lamp clip
holding two lamps and the separation distance between the two
holding portions of a second lamp clip holding two lamps adjoining
the two lamps are substantially the same.
[0022] In the light source device according to the present
application, the separation distance between the two holding
portions is a distance intermediate between the pitch between the
two lamps held by the first lamp clip and the pitch between the two
lamps held by the second lamp clip.
[0023] In the light source device according to the present
application, at least six lamps are juxtaposed, and the separation
distance between the two holding portions of a third lamp clip
holding lamps adjoining the two lamps held by the first or second
lamp clip is different from the separation distance between the two
holding portions of the first or second lamp clip.
[0024] In the light source device according to the present
application, the adjoining two lamps are held by the first lamp
clip at the middle parts in such a manner as to make the lamps
closer to each other, and the two lamps adjoining the two lamps are
held by the second lamp clip at the middle parts in such a manner
as to make the lamps more separated from each other.
[0025] In the light source device according to the present
application, the plurality of lamp clips have translucency.
[0026] A liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present
application includes a liquid crystal panel and the above-described
light source device provided on the back side of the liquid crystal
panel.
[0027] In the present application, the separation distance between
the two holding portions of the first lamp clip and the separation
distance between the two holding portions of the second lamp clip
are substantially the same.
[0028] In this specification, that the separation distances are
substantially the same indicates that the difference between the
separation distance between the holding portions of one lamp clip
and the separation distance between the holding portions of the
other lamp clip is smaller than the largest one of the bend
amounts, at the lamp clip attachment positions, of the lamps which
are bent as described later.
[0029] For example, a first to fourth rod-shaped lamps are
juxtaposed substantially parallel to one another on the attachment
plate. The pitch between the first lamp and the second lamp, the
pitch between the second lamp and the third lamp, and the pitch
between the third lamp and the fourth lamp increase (decrease), for
example, in this order. The first lamp clip holds the middle parts
of the first and second lamps with the two holding portions. The
second lamp clip holds the middle parts of the third and fourth
lamps with the two holding portions.
[0030] When the separation distance between the two holding
portions of the first lamp clip is substantially equal to the pitch
between the first and second lamps, the separation distance between
the two holding portions of the second lamp clip is smaller
(larger) than the pitch between the third and fourth lamps.
[0031] However, since the lamps are rod-shaped, the third and
fourth lamps are readily bent in the direction that makes them
closer to each other (more separated from each other) to be held by
the second lamp clip.
[0032] Conversely, when the separation distance between the two
holding portions of the second lamp clip is substantially equal to
the pitch between the third and fourth lamps, the separation
distance between the two holding portions of the first lamp clip is
larger (smaller) than the pitch between the first and second
lamps.
[0033] However, since the lamps are rod-shaped, the first and
second lamps are readily bent in the direction that makes them more
separated from each other (closer to each other) to be held by the
first lamp clip.
[0034] In the present application, the separation distance between
the two holding portions of each of the first and second lamp clips
is a distance intermediate between the pitch between the first and
second lamps and the pitch between the third and fourth lamps (for
example, substantially equal to the pitch between the second and
third lamps).
[0035] That is, the separation distance between the two holding
portions of the first (second) lamp clip is a distance approximate
to the pitch between the first and second lamps and the pitch
between the third and fourth lamps although it is different from
the pitches.
[0036] In the present application, the separation distance between
the two holding portions of the third lamp clip is different from
the separation distance between the two holding portions of the
first (second) lamp clip.
[0037] For example, the first to sixth rod-shaped lamps are
juxtaposed substantially parallel to one another on the attachment
plate. The pitch between the first and second lamps, the pitch
between the second and third lamps, the pitch between the third and
fourth lamps, the pitch between the fourth and fifth lamps, and the
pitch between the fifth and sixth lamps increase (decrease), for
example, in this order.
[0038] The first (second) lamp clip holds the middle parts of the
first and second (third and fourth) lamps with the two holding
portions. The third lamp clip holds the middle parts of the fifth
and sixth lamps with the two holding portions.
[0039] The pitch between the first and second lamps and the pitch
between the fifth and sixth lamps are largely different from each
other. For this reason, the separation distance between the two
holding portions of each of the first and second lamp clips is made
appropriate for both of the pitch between the first and second
lamps and the pitch between the third and fourth lamps, and the
separation distance between the two holding portions of the third
lamp clip is made appropriate for the pitch between the fifth and
sixth lamps.
[0040] With the light source device according to the present
application, even when the separation distances between the two
holding portions of the lamp clips and the pitches between the
adjoining two lamps are different from each other, the two lamps
which are rod-shaped are bent in the direction that makes them
closer to each other or more separated from each other according to
the separation distance between the two holding portions.
Consequently, adjoining two lamp clips can be held by the two
holding portions of one lamp clip.
[0041] That is, since it is unnecessary that the separation
distance between the two holding portions and the pitch between the
two lamps be the same, the number of kinds of lamp clips can be
reduced.
[0042] With the light source device according to the present
application, the separation distances between the two holding
portions of the lamp clips and the pitches between the two lamps
held by the lamp clips are approximate to each other.
[0043] Consequently, overloading on the lamps that are bent by
being held by the lamp clips can be suppressed while the number of
kinds of lamp clips is reduced.
[0044] If the separation distances between the two holding portions
and the pitches between the two lamps are excessively different
from each other, the lamps are excessively bent and this overloads
the lamps, which can result in distortion or breakage of the lamps
and degradation in the performance and quality of the light source
device due to the distortion or breakage of the lamps.
[0045] With the light source device according to the present
application, the separation distance between the two holding
portions of each of the first and second lamp clips each holding
two of the adjoining first to fourth lamps is made appropriate for
both of the pitch between the first and second lamps and the pitch
between the third and fourth lamps, and the separation distance
between the two holding portions of the third lamp clip holding the
fifth and sixth lamps adjoining the first to fourth lamps is made
appropriate for the pitch between the fifth and sixth lamps.
[0046] Consequently, overloading on the lamps that are bent by
being held by the lamp clips can be suppressed while the number of
kinds of lamp clips is reduced.
[0047] If the separation distances between the two holding portions
of the first to third lamp clips are substantially the same, there
are cases where the separation distances and the pitch between the
fifth and sixth lamps are excessively different from each other.
Consequently, there are cases where the fifth and sixth lamps are
excessively bent by being held by the third lamp clip and this
overloads the fifth and sixth lamps.
[0048] The above and further objects and features of the invention
will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description
with accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0049] FIG. 1 is a simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of
a light source device according to an embodiment;
[0050] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the structure of a lamp clip
that the light source device has;
[0051] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the
lamp clip that the light source device has; and
[0052] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of the
lamp clips that the light source device has.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0053] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present application will
be described in detail based on the drawings.
[0054] FIG. 1 is a simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of
a light source device 1 according to the embodiment, and is also a
simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal
display apparatus 5 having the light source device 1.
[0055] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are a side view and a perspective view
showing the structure of a lamp clip 31 that the light source
device 1 has, respectively. FIG. 2 is also an enlarged simplified
longitudinal cross-sectional view of the light source device 1
showing the neighborhood of the lamp clip 31.
[0056] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of the
lamp clips 31, 31, 32, and 32 that the light source device 1 has,
and is also an upper front view of the light source device 1.
[0057] The light source device 1 which is used as a back light
device is provided in the liquid crystal display apparatus 5
longitudinally placed by setting a non-illustrated leg on the
floor, and is laminated behind a rectangular liquid crystal display
panel 51 as shown in FIG. 1.
[0058] The light source device 1 according to the present
embodiment has a plurality of lamps including lamps 21 to 28. Since
these lamps are arranged vertically symmetrically with respect to
the center in the vertical direction of the light source device 1,
the lamps 21 to 28 disposed on the upper side of the light source
device 1 will be described in the following: Here, the vertical
direction is the vertical direction in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, and is a
direction vertical to the direction of length of the lamps 21 to 28
in a condition of being attached to a chassis 11 as described later
(more specifically, in a condition of being attached to the chassis
11 and not being bent as described later).
[0059] The light source device 1 has the chassis 11 as the
attachment plate to which the lamps 21 to 28 are attached. The
chassis 11 is formed by disposing a non-illustrated reflecting
sheet that reflects light or applying a coating that reflects
light, onto the inner surface of a rectangular dish-like metal
material. Consequently, the chassis 11 also has the function of
reflecting the light emitted from the lamps 21 to 28, toward the
liquid crystal display panel 51.
[0060] In the following, description as to the reflecting sheet (or
the coating) of the chassis 11 is omitted.
[0061] For example, the chassis 11 has engagement holes for
attaching the lamp clips 31 and 32 to the chassis 11 as described
later, and the engagement holes are so formed as to pass through
not only the chassis 11 but also the reflecting sheet (or the
coating) of the chassis 11.
[0062] The lamps 21 to 28 are rod-shaped; specifically, they have a
cylindrical form with a long length and a small diameter (the
length is not less than several tens of cm, and the inner diameter
is not more than 5 mm), and are substantially of the same shape.
The lamps 21 to 28 have a length of 1200 mm, and are formed by
using soft glass or hard glass having the property of being capable
of being bent by approximately 0.5 mm at the maximum. The lamps 21
to 28 formed by using soft glass resist breakage more than the
lamps 21 to 28 formed by using hard glass when they are bent. As
long as having such a property, the material is not limited to soft
glass or hard glass.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 4, the lamps 21 to 28 are juxtaposed in
this order substantially parallel to one another in such a manner
that the pitch increases from the center in the vertical direction
toward the upper end of the light source device 1. In this
specification, the intervals between the ends of the adjoining
lamps 21 to 28 of the lamps 21 to 28 arranged as shown in FIG. 4
are designated as pitches (for example, 22.5 to 25.5 mm).
[0064] Specifically, the lamp 21 is disposed at the center in the
vertical direction of the light source device 1, the lamp 22 is
disposed above the lamp 21 with a pitch of 22.5 mm, the lamp 23 is
disposed above the lamp 22 with a pitch of 23.0 mm, and the lamp 24
is disposed above the lamp 23 with a pitch of 23.5 mm.
[0065] Likewise, the lamp 24 (26, 27, 28) is disposed above the
lamp 24 (25, 26, 27) with a pitch of 24.0 (24.5, 25.0, 25.5)
mm.
[0066] Here, since the lamps 21 to 28 are each attached to the
chassis 11 in a condition of being slightly bent in a middle part
thereof as described later, in this embodiment, the pitches between
the lamps 21 to 28 are equal to the separation distances between
both ends of the lamps 21 to 28, and do not denote the separation
distances between the middle parts of the lamps 21 to 28. In FIG.
4, the lamps 21 to 28 in the bent condition are shown by solid
lines, and virtual straight lines connecting both ends of the lamps
21 to 28 are shown by chain double-dashed lines.
[0067] By arranging the lamps 21 to 28 in such a manner that lamps
are close in the center in the vertical direction and are sparse in
the upper and lower end parts as described above, the brightness is
highest in the center in the vertical direction of the screen of
the liquid crystal display panel 51, and the screen brightness
gradually decreases from the center toward the upper and lower ends
in the vertical direction. In this case, a sufficient brightness is
ensured while the brightness unevenness of the liquid crystal
display panel 51 is suppressed, and further, the number of lamps
included in the light source device 1 is reduced.
[0068] The lamps 21 to 28 are held at both ends thereof by
non-illustrated lamp holders attached to the chassis 11.
[0069] Further, the middle parts of the lamps 21 and 22 and the
lamps 23 and 24 are held by at least one or two lamp clips 31.
Likewise, the middle parts of the lamps 25 and 26 and the lamps 27
and 28 are held by at least one or two lamp clips 32. FIG. 4
illustrates a condition in which one positions in the middle parts
of the lamps 21 to 28 are held by a total of four lamp clips 31,
31, 32, and 32. That is, the middle parts of the lamps 21 to 28
held by the lamp clips 31, 31, 32, and 32 are not necessarily the
positions exactly at half the length of the lamps 21 to 28, but may
be any positions at least other than both ends of the lamps 21 to
28.
[0070] Since the configurations of the lamp clips 31 and 32 are
substantially the same, the configuration of the lamp clip 31 will
mainly be described in the following:
[0071] As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the lamp clip 31 has a
rectangular flat-shaped base 311. Holding portions 312 and 312
having a partly opened arc-shaped grasping configuration are
integrally formed in a protruding condition on one surface (obverse
surface) of the base 311, and engagement portions 314 and 314 are
integrally formed in a protruding condition on the other surface
(reverse surface) of the base 311.
[0072] To form such a lamp clip 31, the parts are integrally
molded, for example, by using a colorless and transparent acrylic
resin. Since the lamp clip 31 is colorless and transparent, the
reduction in the brightness of the liquid crystal display panel 51
because of the shadow of the lamp clip 31 can be suppressed. In
addition, the lamp clip 31 is easily manufactured because it is
integrally molded by using a synthetic resin.
[0073] The holding portions 312 are each formed in an appropriate
thickness to provide the holding portions 312 with flexibility. The
inner dimensions of the holding portions 312 are slightly smaller
than the outer diameter of the lamp 21. The lamps 21 and 22 are
pushed into the holding portions 312 and 312 from the openings of
the holding portions 312 and 312 while both ends of the openings of
the holding portions 312 and 312 are bent outside. After the lamps
21 and 22 are inserted in the holding portions 312 and 312, both
ends of the openings of the holding portions 312 and 312 sandwich
the lamps 21 and 22 by elasticity, whereby the lamps 21 and 22 are
grasped by the holding portions 312 and 312.
[0074] The holding portions 312 and 312 are so juxtaposed as to be
separated by X mm in the direction of length of the base 311.
Regarding the lamp clip 31, the separation distance X between the
holding portions 312 and 312 is 23.0 mm. This distance is
substantially equal to the pitch between the lamps 22 and 23. That
is, it is a distance intermediate between the pitch of 22.5 mm
between the lamps 21 and 22 and the pitch of 23.5 mm between the
lamps 23 and 24.
[0075] Here, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, like the lamp clip 31,
the lamp clip 32 includes a base 321 corresponding to the base 311,
holding portions 322 and 322 corresponding to the holding portions
312 and 312, and engagement portions corresponding to the
engagement portions 314 and 314. However, regarding the lamp clip
32, the separation distance X between the holding portions 322 and
322 is 25.0 mm. This distance is substantially equal to the pitch
between the lamps 26 and 27. That is, it is a distance intermediate
between the pitch of 24.5 mm between the lamps 25 and 26 and the
pitch of 25.5 mm between the lamps 27 and 28.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the engagement portions 314
and 314 are arrow-shaped and disposed substantially just behind the
holding portions 312 and 312 with respect to the base 311. The base
end sides of the arrows are continuous with the base 311, and the
tip sides of the arrows are formed in an appropriate thickness to
provide the tips of the engagement portions 314 and 314 with
flexibility.
[0077] To attach the lamp clip 31 to the chassis 11, the engagement
portions 314 and 314 are inserted into non-illustrated engagement
holes formed in the chassis 11 from the inside to the outside of
the chassis 11. In this case, the tips of the engagement portions
314 and 314 are bent to decrease in size when the engagement
portions 314 and 314 are inserted in the engagement holes of the
chassis 11, and after the insertion is completed, the tips of the
engagement portions 314 and 314 return to the original shape,
thereby engaging the engagement portions 314 and 314 with the
chassis 11.
[0078] The engagement holes of the chassis 11 to which the lamp
clips 31, 31, 32, and 32 are to be attached are formed in a
staggered configuration in the direction of juxtaposition of the
lamps 21 to 28. Consequently, the lamp clip 31 holding the lamps 21
and 22, the lamp clip 31 holding the lamps 23 and 24, the lamp clip
32 holding the lamps 25 and 26, and the lamp clip 32 holding the
lamp 27 and 28 are arranged in a staggered configuration as shown
in FIG. 4.
[0079] Next, the arrangement of the lamp clips 31, 31, 32, and 32
will be described.
[0080] One lamp clip 31 holds the lamps 21 and 22. The other lamp
clip 31 holds the lamps 23 and 24. Likewise, one (the other) lamp
clip 32 holds the lamps 25 and 26 (27 and 28).
[0081] The separation distance X between the holding portions 312
and 312 of the lamp clip 31 is longer by 0.5 mm than the pitch
between the lamps 21 and 22. For this reason, by the holding
portions 312 and 312 holding the lamps 21 and 22, respectively, the
rod-shaped lamps 21 and 22 are each bent by 0.25 mm at the maximum
in the direction that makes them more separated from each other. In
other words, the lamps 21 and 22 are held by the holding portions
312 and 312 of the lamp clip 31 by being bent in the direction that
makes them more separated from each other.
[0082] On the other hand, the separation distance X between the
holding portions 312 and 312 of the lamp clip 31 is shorter by 0.5
mm than the pitch between the lamps 23 and 24. For this reason, the
lamps 23 and 24 are held by the holding portions 312 and 312 by
each being bent by 0.25 mm at the maximum in the direction that
makes them closer to each other.
[0083] Since the separation distance X between the holding portions
312 and 312 is a distance intermediate between the pitch between
the lamps 21 and 22 and the pitch between the lamps 23 and 24, the
bend amount of the lamps 21 and 22 and the bend amount of the lamps
23 and 24 are both small, so that overloading on the bent lamps 21
to 24 and breakage of the lamps 21 to 24 due to the overloading can
be suppressed. In addition, the adverse effect of the bend of the
lamps 21 to 24 on the performance, quality, and the like of the
light source device 1 can be ignored.
[0084] Likewise, the lamps 25 and 26 (27 and 28) the pitch between
which is longer (shorter) by 0.5 mm than the separation distance X
between the holding portions 322 and 322 of the lamp clip 32 are
held by the holding portions 322 and 322 by each being bent by 0.25
mm at the maximum in the direction that makes them more separated
from each other (closer to each other).
[0085] Unlike the separation distance X between the holding
portions 312 and 312 of the lamp clip 31, the separation distance X
between the holding portions 322 and 322 of the lamp clip 32 is a
distance intermediate between the pitch between the lamps 25 and 26
and the pitch between the lamps 27 and 28. For this reason, the
bend amount of the lamps 25 and 26 and the bend amount of the lamps
27 and 28 are both small, so that overloading on the bent lamps 25
to 28 and breakage of the lamps 25 to 28 due to the overloading can
be suppressed. In addition, the adverse effect of the bend of the
lamps 25 to 28 on the performance, quality, and the like of the
light source device 1 can be ignored.
[0086] In the light source device 1 as described above, with the
adjoining two lamps 21 and 22, 23 and 24, 25 and 26, and 27 and 28
as pairs, each pair is held by one lamp clip 31 or 32.
[0087] Consequently, the number of lamp clips 31 and 32 that the
light source device 1 has is smaller than that (eight) when the
lamps 21 to 28 are held one by one, and further, the number of
man-hours for holding the lamps 21 to 28 is smaller.
[0088] Moreover, the number of lamp clips 31 and 32 that the light
source device 1 has is smaller than that when the adjoining two
lamps 21 and 22, 23 and 24, 25 and 26, and 27 and 28 are held by
using four lamp clips the separation distances of the two holding
portions of which are 22.5 mm, 23.5 mm, 24.5 mm, and 25.5 mm,
respectively (that is, the pitches between the two lamps to be held
and the separation distances between the holding portions are
substantially the same).
[0089] That is, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the interval between the
holding portions of the lamp clip 32 holding the two lamps 27 and
28 the pitch between which is 25.5 mm which is the largest of the
pitches between the four lamps 25 to 28 juxtaposed at gradually
differing intervals is designed to be 25.0 mm which is smaller than
the largest pitch 25.5 mm. On the other hand, the interval between
the holding portions of the lamp clip 32 holding the two lamps 25
and 26 the pitch between which is 24.5 mm which is the smallest of
the pitches between the four is also 25.0 mm, and is designed to be
larger than the smallest pitch 24.5 mm.
[0090] As described above, in the light source device according to
the present application, even when a plurality of lamps are
arranged with different pitches, the intervals between the holding
portions of the lamp clips can be made the same, so that the light
source device can be manufactured with minimum increase in the
number of kinds of lamp clips.
[0091] Thinking simply about the light source device according to
the present application, there is apprehension that brightness
unevenness occurs because of the lamps being held in the bent
condition. However, since the intervals between the holding
portions of the lamp clips are within the range between the largest
and smallest ones of the pitches between the lamps to be held, if
the light source device is structured under a condition where no
brightness unevenness occurs at the largest pitch and at the
smallest pitch, the brightness unevenness because of the lamps
being held in the bent condition never occurs even if the lamp
clips hold the adjoining lamps at intervals intermediate between
the largest pitch and the smallest pitch.
[0092] The numerical values associated with the size,
configuration, pitch, property, number, and the like of the parts
are not limited to the numerical values described in the present
embodiment.
[0093] As this invention may be embodied in several forms without
departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the
present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive,
since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims
rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that
fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such
metes and bounds thereof are therefore intended to be embraced by
the claims.
* * * * *